Spotlight on Julie London

Friday

May 25, 2007 at 2:00 AM

Camelot Theatre Company presents the second in its Second Stage Music Series for 2007: "Spotlight on Julie London"ťa Little Biography and a Lot of Music!" starring Livia Genise. "Spotlight on Julie London" will play 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 10.

Camelot Theatre Company presents the second in its Second Stage Music Series for 2007: "Spotlight on Julie London"¦a Little Biography and a Lot of Music!" starring Livia Genise. "Spotlight on Julie London" will play 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, June 1-10.

Since 2002, Camelot's Second Stage Music Series "Spotlight On"¦A Little Biography and a Lot of Music!" has featured the life and works of many popular composers and singers. Camelot has turned the spotlight on such artists as The Andrews Sisters, Patti Page, Bing Crosby, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Patsy Cline, Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney.

"Spotlight on Julie London"¦a Little Biography and a Lot of Music!" is the second Spotlight of Camelot's 2007 season, having already shone the spotlight on Julie Andrews and brought its production of "Spotlight on the Andrews Sisters" to Grants Pass.

An American singer and actress, Julie London (September 26, 1926 — October 18, 2000) was probably best known for her role as nurse Dixie McCall on the TV show "Emergency!" (1972 — 1979). But her Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame is for her recording career, with 32 albums to her credit. As a vocalist she was known for her smoky, sensual voice.

Alan Ladd's wife Sue Carol discovered London who was working as an elevator operator. She played small parts in the early 1940s and quickly became a leading actress and G.I. pin-up girl. In 1947 she married actor Jack Webb prior to his fame in "Dragnet." Her acting career lasted more than 35 years.

"Spotlight on Julie London" features over 24 Julie London hits, including "September in the Rain," "I'll Remember April," "Boy on a Dolphin," "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Call Me Irresponsible."

A professional actress since 1969, Genise began her career at the St. Louis Opera and has performed from Broadway (Rizzo in "Grease") to Hollywood and the Bay Area in California, receiving awards for Best Actress in a Musical from Dean Goodman, Drama-Logue and the Bay Area Critics Circle. At Camelot her roles include Desiree Armfeldt in "A Little Night Music," The Witch in "Into the Woods," Irena in "The Music Lesson," and Maria Callas in "Master Class." She will be playing Shelby in Camelot's next production, the musical "The Spitfire Grill."

Lawson has performed in the Rogue Valley since the early '70s. He studied piano, vibes and jazz harmony at Boston's Berklee School of Music and served as arranger and music director for Camelot's "Spotlights on Peggy Lee" and "Billie Holiday." He performs for local events and at the Avalon with his trio and helped his wife, Pam Lawson, produce her own Craterian show.

Frazer has performed in the Rogue Valley for the last 30 years in a variety of venues and theatres, including Actor's Theatre, Ashland New Plays Festival, Ashland Resident Theatre, Britt Festival, Camelot Theatre, The Coyote Project, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, SOU and others.

Fellman also plays with Back Porch Swing, and at the Gallery Koron in Ashland's First Friday Art Walk. While not playing music, Fellman runs a small software company.

Fjeldheim's recent performing credits include backing Ben Vereen in 2006 and earlier this year Bernadette Peters at the Craterian Theatre. Last summer Fjeldheim played in the house band for the acclaimed "Five Guys Named Moe" at Oregon Cabaret Theatre. Locally you can catch him with the Easy Valley Eight, the Pat DeBellis Quintet, and The John Taylor Group.

Miller has played professionally since age 15 and has shared the stage (albeit in very minor ways) with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Mancini and Ramsey Lewis. He now plays regularly in local groups including the Rogue Valley Symphony, Loose Change, Jefferson Baroque, Herb Vallee, Rogue Music Theater, and as a substitute bassist in other bands in the area.

Sutfin has played drums for over 35 years working rock clubs and Holiday Inn circuits from Alaska to Oklahoma with groups including The Diamonds and Mose Allison. He works with local theatres and plays West Coast concerts with Jason Johnston (contemporary Nashville Country Rock), Lorraine Rawles (original Western Folk/Swing) and Annie McIntyre (original music and high-powered R&B dance band). Sutfin is Camelot's resident photographer and owner of Ashland Camera.

Tickets are $16. Reserved seating is an additional $2. Tickets are available at the Camelot Theatre box office which is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and one hour before performances. Call 535-5250 ext. 1 for reservations. Tickets may also be ordered online at www.CamelotTheatre.org.